PHILOSOPHIA POLITICA

Proactive and reactive responses to pandemics and its impact on members of society irrespective of gender, race, religion and class, bring to the fore the issues of inequalities as it regards human rights, gender consciousness and the nature of humanitarian assistance deployment. This paper aims to analyse these impacts and responses using John Rawls’ Theory of Justice. Rawls’ Difference Principle is a principle chosen behind a ‘veil of ignorance’ in an original position that requires that social benefits and burdens are allocated in such a way as to make the position of the least well-off as good as it can be. This paper analyses the ongoing responses in the light of the Difference Principle to determine how well they promote human right, gender parity and ensure that when aids is provided to victims, that they are relevant and are aligned to the priorities and actual needs of the victims of pandemics such as the ongoing COVID-19. The value of this paper lies in the application of the Difference Principle in shaping and proposing sustainable fair, just and equitable responses (proactive and reactive) to pandemics.

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